Verbena plant named ‘Dovemsulc’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Dovemsulc’, characterized by its semi-trailing and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; and large violet and white bi-colored flowers that are held above and beyond the foliar plane in mounded umbels.

Botanical designation: Verbena X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOVEMSULC’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena X hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dovemsulc’.

The new Verbena plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous and early-flowering Verbena plants with numerous large and attractive flowers.

The new Verbena plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2014 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Verbena X hybrida identified as code number VV12-003831-005, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Verbena X hybrida identified as code number VV-0341, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Verbena plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dovemsulc’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dovemsulc’ as a new and distinct Verbena plant:

-   -   1. Semi-trailing and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large violet and white bi-colored flowers; flowers held above         and beyond the foliar plane in mounded umbels.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena flower earlier than plants of the         female parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbena sp. ‘KLEVP15498’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,958. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of ‘KLEVP15498’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more vigorous than plants of         ‘KLEVP15498’.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have thicker stems than plants of         ‘KLEVP15498’.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena have longer leaves than plants of         ‘KLEVP15498’.     -   4. Plants of the new Verbena have larger flowers than plants of         ‘KLEVP15498’.     -   5. Plants of the new Verbena and ‘KLEVP15498’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘KLEVP15498’ have dark purple and white         bi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Verbena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Verbena plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dovemsulc’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 22-cm containers during the spring and summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Verbena production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were ten weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena X hybrida ‘Dovemsulc’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Verbena X             hybrida identified as code number VV12-003831-005, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Verbena X             hybrida identified as code number VV-0341, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 158A in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Semi-trailing and mounding plant habit; freely             branching habit with about six primary lateral branches each             with about 12 to 14 secondary lateral branches; pinching             enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy plant             habit; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 27             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 29             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 82 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 51 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144B; at the internodes, close             to 137C.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 137C; at the internodes, close to             137C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Lobed.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Pubescent, coarse;             semi-glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Pubescent, coarse; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation,             close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 147D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in             hemispherical terminal umbels; umbels dense and mounding;             numerous umbels per plant; flowers face upward or outwardly             depending on position in the umbel; freely flowering habit             with about 12 to 15 flowers per inflorescence and about 250             to 500 flowers developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             the spring through the fall in Northern Europe; plants begin             flowering about eight weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one week on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Oval to tubular. Texture and luster: Rippled; matte.             Color: Close to N80D and 145B.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform, five-parted fused corolla.             Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Depth: About 3 cm. Throat diameter:             About 2 mm. Tube length: About 2.2 cm. Tube diameter: About             1.8 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals.             Petal lobe length: About 9 mm. Petal lobe width: About 7 mm.             Petal lobe shape: Obovate. Petal lobe apex: Emarginate.             Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Petal lobe, when opening,             upper surface: Distally, close to N81A; towards the throat,             close to NN155B. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface:             Distally, close to N81D; towards the throat, close to             NN155B. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Distally,             close to N87A; towards the throat, close to NN155B;             venation, similar to lamina color; color fading to NN155B             with development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface:             Distally, close to N87C; towards the throat, close to             NN155B; venation, similar to lamina color; color fading to             NN155B with development. Throat: Close to 145C; venation,             close to 145C. Tube: Close to 145C; venation, close to 145C.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five fused             sepals. Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 3.2 mm. Sepal             length: About 1.9 cm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape:             Ligulate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture and luster, upper surface: Pubescent, coarse;             semi-glossy. Sepal texture and luster, lower surface:             Pubescent, coarse; matte. Sepal color, when developing,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B and 144A. Sepal             color, fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             145B and 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and             luster: Pubescent; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             About four per flower, adnate to corolla tube. Filament             length: About 0.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 155C. Anther             length: About 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color:             Close to 144C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close             to 2D. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:             About 1.9 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Close             to 142A. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Bi-parted; fimbriate. Stigma color: Close to 147C. Ovary             color: Close to 144A. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant:             About 500 to 600 during the flowering season. Length: About             5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Rough. Color: Close to             199C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About four. Length: About             4.8 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 199B. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 11° C. to about 25° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Verbena     plants to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘Dovemsulc’ as illustrated and described. 